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What’s In A Name?
By Greg Quinn
December 22nd, 2014
When we were born, we were all given a name.
A name is how people identify us. Some
names carry family traditions, some carry personality traits, some are given for
popular culture at the time, some are unmistakable, some are common.
A name is the most important identifier that any of us have.
We name our children names that we think have significance.
We even name our dogs names which have significance.
So to us, a name is very important.
We are known by our names. Our
names are our most significant identifier. Sometimes our given name is not enough, and we are given
nicknames that further identify us.
Native Americans gave their children names based upon what they saw that
day. Running Deer or Crooked Tree
or whatever other name was given was based upon something they saw that was
significant. Most of us are given
names after family, friends, important people, a name that identifies with our
looks or character, or just a name that sounds cool.
In any event, names are important.
God thinks names are important. He named the first man Adam.
He asked Adam to name every animal in the world.
And, God’s name is important. From the great I AM to Jehovah to all the other great names
for God, each name has significance. From
Eternal God, to Everlasting Father, there are so many names for God, each with
great significance. God’s names
show His love, His patience, His power, His judgment, His all-knowing, His
presence everywhere, His grace and mercy.
In this Christmas season, when we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ our
Savior, we should also pay attention to the significance of His name.
Matthew 1:18 Now
the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused
to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy
Ghost.
19 Then
Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public
example, was minded to put her away privily.
20 But
while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto
him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee
Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
21 And
she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall
save his people from their sins.
22 Now
all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by
the prophet, saying,
23 Behold,
a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call
his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
24 Then
Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and
took unto him his wife:
25 And knew
her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name
Jesus.
“Jesus” was actually a common name of the day.
So to name Mary and Joseph’s son Jesus wasn’t unusual.
However, the significance of the name shouldn’t be lost on the
commonality of the name itself. God
said He should be named Jesus, for he would save his people from their sins. No doubt others in Israel named their baby boys “Jesus”
in looking for the forthcoming Messiah. But
this baby named Jesus WAS the forthcoming Messiah.
Another translation for Jesus’ name was Emmanuel, meaning “God with
us”.
So in this passage we see that Jesus is identified with two names and one
title. No other “Jesus” was
given the title of the Christ, or the Savior, or the Messiah.
Jesus’ name means that he will save us from our sins.
And Emmanuel means “God with us”.
Although Jesus has many more names associated with Himself (Savior, Son
of God, Son of Man, Everlasting, the Word, the Bread of Life, etc.), we will
look only at these names indicated in this one passage of scripture, a common
scripture known my most as the Christmas story, to understand the significance
of the name of Jesus.
Jesus, the Son of God, the Word which was from the beginning, left the
riches of Heaven to come to earth to be born in poverty.
Jesus left a throne for a manger. He
left royal garments for swaddling cloths (rags).
He left Father God to be raised by an earthly father Joseph.
He exchanged Heaven for a world of pain and sickness and sin.
But this is why he came. Jesus
came into a world that needed a savior, to redeem to God a people who had
fallen. Jesus came to be our Savior, the one “who would save his
people from their sins”. For
generations man had been trying to justify themselves to God through their
works, through their sacrifices, through what they did, but nothing man could do
was good enough. Only God himself
could redeem mankind from their sins. So
God came from Heaven, in the form of Jesus, to do just that. Therefore the name of Jesus, as the one who would save his
people from their sins, the Messiah, the Christ, is important.
Jesus is who He is, and what He does.
Savior, Redeemer, Christ, Messiah.
Emmanuel was spoken by the prophet Isaiah as God taking form of man and
becoming here “with us”. Emmanuel:
God with us. “God with us” is
very significant, and shows the close personality of Jesus and His intention to
form a relationship with each of us. Following Christ is not a religion of rules and regulations
and do’s and don’ts. Following
Christ is to establish a relationship with Jesus, a close fellowship, a love
relationship, which is why he came. Jesus
came to be “with us”, not in a temple, not in a manuscript, not in the
heavens watching down on us, but to be “with us” every day in everything
that we do. Jesus came to save us
from our sins, but also to establish a relationship with us and fellowship with
us every day.
So as we look at the beauty and majesty of the Christmas story, let’s
think about “what’s in a name?”. Jesus’
name signifies what He does and who He is.
As our Savior, he came to redeem us back to God when there was absolutely
no other way to do so. As Emmanuel, “God with us”, Jesus reminds us that he
lives in us, that He is with us each and every day of our lives, with us during
the good times and bad, and leads us into paths of righteousness and good
living.
If Christmas for you is only gifts and presents and money and shopping,
then you are missing out on the best gift.
Jesus is the best gift, the only gift that keeps on giving, the only gift
that delivers for you peace and joy and happiness and health and prosperity and
satisfaction and eternal life. If
you haven’t received the gift of Jesus, then this Christmas, open the best
gift. Accept Jesus as YOUR savior,
the one that can redeem you to God and save you from your sins, the one who can
give you eternal life, the one that can give your life purpose and value and
success, the only one that can give you peace.
And, accept Jesus as YOUR Emmanuel, your “God with us”, the one that
lives in you and directs you and guides you and gives you joy and happiness and
protects you and comforts you.
What’s in a name? My name,
Gregory, might not mean much. It’s
just a name, but it tells who I am. Quinn, my surname, tells who I belong to, what family I am
in, where I came from, my heritage. Your
name might have more significance, as you may be named after someone famous, or
your great-grandfather, or something else.
Your surname may come from families with royal blood or great wealth or
importance. Or you may just be a
regular Joe.
But the name of Jesus, the only name given under Heaven through which man
can be saved, the Savior, the Christ, the Messiah, the Bread of Life, the Living
Water, the Word which was from the beginning, Jesus’ name has huge
significance. His name means that
he is MY Savior, and MY Lord, and My Comforter, and MY peace, and MY helper, and
He has redeemed me from MY sins. Jesus
as “God with us” is MY comfort and MY joy and MY healer and MY friend.
And, Jesus Christ the Emmanuel can be the same for YOU.
This year, think about the name of Jesus, it’s significance, it’s
purpose, and how this one name can change your life.
If you haven’t yet unwrapped the best gift, the gift of a relationship
with Jesus, do so this year.
What’s in a name? A lot.
God
bless, and Merry Christmas.
Greg Quinn
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